I am somewhat at a loss to know what to wear for the Patagonia trip. Temperatures can range from the 90s down to the 30s (Fahrenheit) apparently, it can also get very wet and windy. My money is really on the colder weather but we”ll be on rough dirt roads for most of the trip so if past experience is anything to go by, I”ll get hot wrestling the bike around. OK, it’’s not likely to be real motocross but even so the chances of coming off the bike, putting my feet down and so forth are probably quite high so I want appropriately tough gear. The last time I got really wet in my Aerostich Roadcrafter suit it let in some water (it is 14 years old) so I have been thinking about what I might replace it with. So far it seems likely to be either Rukka or BMW stuff. The Rukka SRO looks good but is hardly to be found anywhere for a trial fit, let alone to buy. So yesterday I took myself off to a new BMW dealer on the Wing.

It was a hoot to pull up on the Goldwing amongst all the BMW machinery and then to ask to try on the Rallye 2 Pro gear. It is a very close fit and very heavy with little in the way of chest ventilation although you can open up or even remove the sleeves although I see little point in doing that. The supplied Goretex liner is supposed to keep you dry (assuming it is zipped in) and any additional warmth will have to come from another layer. I tried adding the Airvantage waistcoat underneath (which is similar to the one Rukka uses for their SRO) - unsurprisingly, it adds to the feeling of constriction in the suit. I might add that I was already in a suit a size up from my usual fit! So - I am not sure about this thing.

This morning I was in Park Lane and went to the BMW Motorrad shop there - it’’s very small - but was able to try the Enduro helmet and the Motocross boots. The helmet looks the business and feels very light - it can be used with or without the visor but unfortunately, it folded my ears over and despite several attempts I couldn”t unfold them and get comfortable. The boots, similarly were a touch too tight in my size and a real bastard to get off. They felt very secure for the feet and ankles when on but I wonder if I really need that level of protection for the riding I shall be doing?